South Korea’s National Museum of Korea ranks third most visited museum in the world with over 6.5 million visitors, surpassing major global galleries
South Korea’s National Museum of Korea has been ranked the third-most visited museum in the world, according to a global survey of top galleries.
The ranking was revealed in a press release by the museum on Wednesday, citing data published by The Art Newspaper.
The survey placed the museum behind only the Louvre in Paris, which recorded over 9 million visitors, and the Vatican Museums, which welcomed about 6.9 million visitors.
The National Museum of Korea recorded more than 6.5 million visitors, surpassing major institutions such as the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
According to the report, Korea’s museums experienced one of the most significant increases in global attendance.
“The National Museum of Korea’s main venue in Seoul boomed by more than 70%. That is one of the largest rises in absolute numbers we have ever seen,” the publication noted.
The surge in attendance was not limited to Seoul, as regional branches in Jinju, Gyeongju, Cheongju, Buyeo, and Iksan also recorded notable increases.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul also saw a 28% rise, reaching 2.1 million visitors.
Several Korean institutions also made it into the world’s top 100 most-visited art museums, including museums in Gyeongju, Buyeo, and Gongju.
The museum’s rising popularity has also been reflected in early 2026 figures, with over 2 million visitors recorded in the first quarter alone, representing a 44.8% increase compared to the previous quarter.
A major contributor to international interest was the touring exhibition of artworks donated by late Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, which attracted large audiences abroad.
The exhibition, which premiered in Washington, DC, drew around 80,000 visitors, while related digital content surpassed one million views on YouTube.
With growing global attention, discussions have also begun around introducing admission fees for national museums in South Korea.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget has indicated plans to review user fees for national facilities as part of its 2027 budget guidelines.
If implemented, the National Museum of Korea could transition from free admission to a paid-entry system.
Business3 years ago
